Just purchased an 09 Outback and Revo 13. Both are in really good condition but in storage for past couple years and need cleanup. Can't find any info regarding hull maintenance. I expect washing with mild soap is proper, but what about application of RV type wax or some other UV protectant? I anticipate having a lot of questions for you Hobie "pros" so more to follow!

I hose mine every several outings ( on the sea), clean oily marks off it with whatever is to hand and give it a waterblasting maybe once a year if that to get deeply engrained dirt outa the little pores in the plastic. It is stored inside though so I don't bother much over UV. They are pretty robust and well made & i reckon can stand a lot of neglect and still come up smelling of roses.

Your local Hobie dealer sells a really good cleaner and UV protectant.I use Aerospace Protectant 303 on my Outback and it's an excellent product....I buy it at my local Ace hardware store.....around $14 for a 16 0z spray bottleThe color really comes back to life after it's applied......be careful as the hull becomes quite slick/slippery .....you must wipe it off with a good cloth after a few minutes of application.

My two new themes for cleaning are; protect it from UV damage and keep it from smelling bad.

I have to remind myself that it is not a boat with all the associated components so stop spending an hour per outing scrubbing and cleaning.

Bottom line: hose off every outing, aerospace 303 every 1 or 2 months and soap and water every 3-5 outings. That said; I am always in salt water so I may be more diligent with the hose/soap and water stages.

I store my kayak inside so I am not too worried about UV. Living in Oregon the sun is only strong for maybe 4 months of the year. In that time I am out on the water for maybe 10 trips. The other 8 months I am out fishing there is not much UV strength in the sun up here. Thus, I just hose off my kayak and let the light layer of dirt and filth act as my UV protectant.

As a data point I have left some plastic items out in the sun and it usually takes 3+ years of daily exposure before it breaks down. If I lived further south I would definitely use a protectant, but up here it is not too big of a deal.

_________________Fish tremble when they hear my name

A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for. --John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928